Discover Cape Town’s cultural heritage and get a snapshot of township life on this 3.5-hour tour. With a knowledgeable guide at your side, take in the kaleidoscopic houses of Bo-Kaap, otherwise known as the Malay Quarter, and then visit three townships on the outskirts of the city. Learn about Xhosa culture in Langa, watch artists and craftspeople at work in Gugulethu, and then tour the fast-growing township of Khayalitsha with a local.

Choose from a morning or afternoon departure, and then meet your guide and air-conditioned coach at your central Cape Town hotel and travel to Bo-Kaap on Signal Hill. Also known as the Malay Quarter, the neighborhood is steeped in history, being largely a community of Malay slaves' descendants.

Gaze out at the eye-catching Cape Malay architecture and listen to your guide’s commentary as the most interesting examples are pointed out for you. Snap photos of the area’s brightly colored houses and pass by aromatic spice shops and cafes serving traditional cuisine.

Continue to Langa, the Mother City’s oldest and largest township. Explore the settlement with your guide and discover how the lively community — which was established pre-apartheid — is suffused with the history and culture of the Xhosa people, one of the largest cultural groups in South Africa. If your tour takes place on a Sunday, you’ll also attend a service at a local church.

Next, travel to Gugulethu, originally established to house migrant workers from the agrarian Transkei region in the Eastern Cape province. Witness examples of poverty and development alike, including shanty towns, guesthouses, restaurants and jazz clubs. Then, visit a local shop to watch some of the community’s artists and craftspeople at work.

Finally, make for Khayalitsha on the Cape Flats. Meaning ‘new home’ in Xhosa, Khayelitsha is South Africa’s largest township. Pass by houses of brick and mortar, as well as the unsettling sight of makeshift shacks, and learn how the fast-growing township is focused firmly on the future. Then, visit a center where locals are taught skills such as weaving before setting off on a walking tour with a local guide. You’ll also visit your guide’s shack for an up-close look at living conditions in the township.

After roughly 3.5 hours, you tour concludes with a drop-off at your hotel in Cape Town.

Please note: A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Schedule details

Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.

Departure Dates:

Departure Point:

Your centrally located Cape Town hotel

Departure Time:

9am or 1.30pm

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, you must contact the local service provider to verify your exact pickup time.

Toilets are available on coaches with a seating capacity of 28 to 44 passengers. There are no toilets on the 15-seater Sprinters and Minivans. Vehicle used will depend on passenger numbers on the day

Voucher Info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
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Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.

Traveler Reviews

The trip was an excellent idea. Meeting inhabitants of the two townships, especially Khayelitsha opens up your eyes to the conditions in which the majority of the county lives. A solo visit to those areas would be difficult if not impossible. Our guide Dustin spoke excellent Englidh and was fun to interact with. The background related to the colorful Malay part of town at the beginning of the tour was also interesting although our hotel Hilton was actually on the same street so we could easily spend more time there later